Game Trade Magazine, a monthly trade publication that regularly prints articles on Fantasy Flight products (among other companies'), has updated its website with a new article about the Imperial Raider: http://www.gametrademagazine.com/Home/1/1/58/591?articleID=158752

Much of it is stuff we already know from FFG's announcement article. There are a couple nice new pieces of art, including one of the TIE Advanced, seen above. It reiterates that the release date is quarter one 2015, which is hilarious. But there's one little tidbit teased about one of the crew cards:

You’ll also find a few other playable upgrades, including one crew member who’s bound to ensure that all your Imperial plans proceed exactly as you foresee…

Perhaps the print edition will have a picture of that crew card along with the article (as Game Trader did with a couple of the Wave 4 upgrade cards, particularly for the TIE Phantom). The issue hasn't come out yet, I don't believe. I saw one website listing its release date as Jan. 28, so once it's out, someone will have to get their hands on a copy to check.

Interestingly that comment comes under the Standard Play heading in the article... Could they be talking about Palpatine? And will he be available for Standard Play??

Palpatine: During the Activation phase, you may discard this card to treat all pilots in your squad as pilot skill "0".

"Things are proceeding exactly as planned" ~creepy Emperor voice

Interestingly that comment comes under the Standard Play heading in the article... Could they be talking about Palpatine? And will he be available for Standard Play??

He has to be. Palpatine absolutely will be a card you can take in Standard. He's a totally iconic part of Star Wars and has to be on the table has much as possible.

Interestingly that comment comes under the Standard Play heading in the article... Could they be talking about Palpatine? And will he be available for Standard Play??

He would be a great asset. Can it be done?

Palpatine is almost certainly a Crew card rather than a Team card, and so unless he's flagged as Huge Ship Only, he'll show up in normal play.

That is, of course, assuming he's any good.

Emperor Palpatine:

When a friendly ship at Range 1-3 reveals its maneuver dial, you may change the maneuver dial to any other maneuver. Then give the ship a Stress token.

Note: no limit of once per round...

Interestingly that comment comes under the Standard Play heading in the article... Could they be talking about Palpatine? And will he be available for Standard Play??

He would be a great asset. Can it be done?

Yes...I have foreseen it.

Palpatine: During the Activation phase, you may discard this card to treat all pilots in your squad as pilot skill "0".

"Things are proceeding exactly as planned" ~creepy Emperor voice

I hope he's not a discard.

I do hope he's like silly expensive, 6 to 7 point range (maybe even 8), but has a great ability.

Something like: During activation your ships can swap Pilot skill and activate in any order you chose, likewise during combat your ships may swap Pilot Skill and attack in any order you choose. If the Emperors ship is destroyed, the rest of your ships are PS -2 to a minimum of 0.

Probably too powerful... but something like a super decoy.

Fluff wise he kept control of all forces through the force.

What interests me is they are pitching the Raider as being available in Q1.

What interests me is they are pitching the Raider as being available in Q1.

Typical FFG optimism, I'm sure. We're probably not seeing it on store shelves until May.

Palpatine: Ask your opponent if he/she wishes to join your side. Upon refusal, taze them until a parent intervenes. Then discard this card.

Canon and fun!

Palpatine: Ask your opponent if he/she wishes to join your side. Upon refusal, taze them until a parent intervenes. Then discard this card.

Canon and fun!

But what if they choose to join your side? Game ends in a draw? You both win?

I think the comment on 6 heavy laser canons should be noted, we might have 6 hard points on the raider.....

Palpatine: Ask your opponent if he/she wishes to join your side. Upon refusal, taze them until a parent intervenes. Then discard this card.

Canon and fun!

But what if they choose to join your side? Game ends in a draw? You both win?

Both players are disqualified, as your squad now has 200 points in a 100-point tourney.

Palpatine: Ask your opponent if he/she wishes to join your side. Upon refusal, taze them until a parent intervenes. Then discard this card.

Canon and fun!

But what if they choose to join your side? Game ends in a draw? You both win?

Assuming I calculated it correctly, both players win with a total MOV of 300 (their combined fleets are 200 points, and their enemy has 0 points, so they both get 200-0+100).

dont taze me bro!!

Palpatine: Ask your opponent if he/she wishes to join your side. Upon refusal, taze them until a parent intervenes. Then discard this card.

Canon and fun!

But what if they choose to join your side? Game ends in a draw? You both win?

Well, then you'd be up Sith creek without a battle.

What if Moff J and Palpatine are on the same ship? That's an interesting conversation to have with the emperor telling him he has to get thrown off to flip a crit over...

What if Moff J and Palpatine are on the same ship? That's an interesting conversation to have with the emperor telling him he has to get thrown off to flip a crit over...

Eh, not like it'll be the last time an underling throws him to his death.

What if Moff J and Palpatine are on the same ship? That's an interesting conversation to have with the emperor telling him he has to get thrown off to flip a crit over...

Eh, not like it'll be the last time an underling throws him to his death.

What if Moff J and Palpatine are on the same ship? That's an interesting conversation to have with the emperor telling him he has to get thrown off to flip a crit over...

Eh, not like it'll be the last time an underling throws him to his death.

He isn't dead...he simply surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together. He may have been struck down but he's has become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.

Maybe he leaves because the Moff is inept?

Anyhow, the primary means of moving him about in the movies was in the shuttle, so I'd say it makes perfect sense for him to not be Huge Only.

It wouldn't be very good, as it would limit his usability, but some sort of neat interaction with Royal Guard Pilots would be cool.

Or

Maybe once per round a friendly ship in play may (No range restriction because he's super powerful) reroll one die. (then take a stress?) Or something like that.

Whatever he does, he needs to be a direct, powerful/playable, and immediate answer to 3P0 and R2. FFG has a chance to balance the playing field, and have done a good job with jade and Issard, but this is the chance to really balance the game back towards the neutral line when it comes to upgrades and add ons for ships, so i hope this really helps out the game.

Im just scared they will make him just way over the top, and then it's no longer solve for fat han, then its solve for decimator, and frankly, I'm tired of doing proofs for one semester.

What if Moff J and Palpatine are on the same ship? That's an interesting conversation to have with the emperor telling him he has to get thrown off to flip a crit over...

Eh, not like it'll be the last time an underling throws him to his death.

He isn't dead...he simply surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together. He may have been struck down but he's has become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.

Nope! In order to become a force ghost, you need to have died while in tune with the living force.